Lionel Messi scores both goals as Argentina open their Copa America title defense by beating Canada

ATLANTA (AP) — Lionel Messi’s brilliance got Argentina off to a winning start in defending its Copa America title, beating Canada and a poor playing field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Messi’s through ball led to Julián Álvarez’s goal in the 49th minute and the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner assisted Lautaro Martínez’s 88th-minute goal in a 2-0 win on Thursday evening.

“It’s been a long time since we did this,” Messi said through an interpreter, “but we were patient to keep possession and it was difficult to find the good open spaces.”

Argentina is looking for its third straight major title after winning the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup. Argentina was held scoreless in the first half and defeated Canada 12-3 in the second.

Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez both criticized the pitch at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, one of the venues for the 2026 World Cup.

“The field was a disaster,” Martínez said. “It looks like a springboard where the ball jumps. They need to improve this. If that is not the case, the Copa America will always remain at a lower level than the euro.”

Grass was laid after a Major League Soccer match was played on the usual artificial turf on Saturday.

“Thank God we won. Otherwise it would have been a cheap excuse,” Scaloni said. “They knew seven months ago that we would play here and a few days ago they changed the surface. It’s no excuse, but this wasn’t a good pitch. Kind regards, the field is not suitable for these players.”

Canadian defender Kamal Miller was also critical.

“It felt like I was walking on a stage, like it was hollow,” he said.

A crowd of 70,564 attended the opener of the 32-game tournament. The United States will play Panama in the stadium on June 27.

With the South American Championship moved to the US for a second time, Messi set a Copa America record with his 35th match, one more than Chile’s Sergio Livingstone of 1941-53. Messi improved his own record with his 18th assist.

Messi, who turns 37 on Monday, scored the first goal when he headed a pass through the defense for Alexis Mac Allister after a throw-in. The midfielder passed a sideways pass to Álvarez as he crashed into an onrushing goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau about eight yards out. With an almost empty net, Álvarez kicked the ball in over a sliding defender for his eighth goal in 32 international appearances.

Messi extended his Copa America record when he ran through the center of midfield and rolled a perfectly weighted pass to Martínez, who slotted home in the 76th minute to slot past Crépeau for his 25th international goal.

“We did well defensively in the first half and had a few chances, but at this level you have to take your chances,” said Canada’s new captain Alphonso Davies. “If you make mistakes, they punish you, and that’s what they did today.”

Messi failed to convert after a few excellent chances. Crépeau made a diving stop in the 65th minute and Messi’s rebound attempt was blocked by the head of defender Derek Cornelius. Messi chipped wide after coming in alone to Crépeau in the 79th.

He was startled by a sliding tackle from defender Moïse Bombito in the 82nd minute, but remained in the match.

“It was physically intense,” Messi said.

Argentina plays Chile on Tuesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, before concluding the first round against Peru on June 29 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Canada faces Peru on Tuesday in Kansas City, Kansas, and closes the group stage against Chile on June 29 in Orlando, Florida.

Fourteen US stadiums will host the tournament, which runs until July 14 and ends in Miami Gardens, Florida. Six countries from North and Central America and the Caribbean were added to the ten South American teams, as they were during the Copa America centenary in 2016.

A slow start did not stop the Albiceleste from winning their previous two tournaments. Argentina opened the 2022 World Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia and started the 2021 Copa America with a 1-1 draw against Chile.

Canada made its Copa America debut and played its first competitive match under American coach Jesse Marsch, who was hired on May 13. The Canadians have not scored in three games under Marsch.

“Before we played these three games, I told the team that whatever happens in the three games, we have to come out stronger and develop ourselves, have more self-confidence and have more faith,” Marsch said. where we sit now, as painful as it is to know that we let this game pass us by.”

Argentina started eight players who started in the 2022 World Cup final victory over France, with centre-back Lisandro Martínez, left-back Marcos Acuña and Leandro Paredes coming on ahead of Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico and Enzo Fernández.

Emiliano Martínez was tested in the 43rd minute when he used his left hand to deflect Stephen Eustáquio’s rebounded header.

After the final whistle, Davis exchanged jerseys with Messi.

“Being on the field and playing against him was a real blessing,” Davies said.

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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024